Do New Year Resolutions Really Work?

I create New Year Resolutions every year. In fact, I can go back to about 1980 when I think it all started.

Dorine and Mike – March 1972

My wife “lives for today” and doesn’t get too hung up on what tomorrow will bring. I wish I could be more like her in this regard.

This is not to say she doesn’t think about the future, , , she simply does not have a need to focus nearly as much on the future as I do.

Whenever we talk about developing new year resolutions or discussing what we want to be in the future, she has two comments for me:

“I’m not spending time on this.”

“I don’t care what you become; I just want you to grow up.”

I still hear this today from Miss Dorine after almost 46 years of marriage. We will hit #46 next week on December 26, 2016. Dorine is my BEST FRIEND in the world, and she has been a wonderful wife and companion for all of these years.

Her lack of enthusiasm for goal setting or developing New Year Resolutions doesn’t deter me from pursuing what has become an annual tradition. It’s something I look forward to around this time of year.

Every year around the holidays I start jotting down a few goals for next year. At some point I started creating two sets: one for personal goals and one for professional goals.

In the old days, I used to be fairly lengthy and spent probably more time on them than needed. Now, I spend just a few minutes to jot down a few things a week or so before Christmas and then add/update the list through the holidays. By January 1st, I have listed what I want to commit to myself for the new year.

It’s not complex, doesn’t take much time, and I think it makes a difference.

Over time my list has gotten shorter and shorter as I now tend to list just a few things that I really want to accomplish for myself, either personally or professionally.

Why spend time developing New Year Resolutions?
My sense is that when you write something down, it makes it more important. Studies certainly suggest this to be the case.

You rarely accomplish anything unless you make it a priority and commit to getting it done. For me, I believe it’s important to make a few commitments to yourself each year. You owe it to yourself and good things can come of it.

I can tell you that many of the things I’ve accomplished (both personally and professionally) are due in some part because I wrote them down and made a commitment to make it happen.

A recent example is that for 2016 one of my personal goals was to lose 16 pounds. Well, mission accomplished, , , this time I actually lost the 15 pounds that always seems to be on my list. Next year, I want to go for 10 more pounds and reach my ideal weight. It’s all about focus.

Thanks a lot for sharing Mike and that GOD bless you & Dorine a LOT your 46 years of marriage.
Wishing to Dorine, you, your staff a Merry Christmas and very Healthy, Successful and Blessed Happy New Year!